Icon, a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, has acquired the Mapi Group, a Patient-Centered Health Outcomes Research and Commercialization company.

The acquisition strengthens Icon’s existing Commercialization and Outcomes Research business adding significant commercialization presence, analytics, real world evidence generation and strategic regulatory expertise. The combined organization will be a leader for real world evidence, post approval research, language services, consultancy services supporting clinical outcomes assessments, pricing and market access and scientific communications.

The acquisition also enables Icon to have direct access to Mapi Research Trust, the industry’s most subscribed library of Clinical Outcomes Assessments (COAs), with exclusive distribution of over 300 families of validated questionnaires, including licensing of COA services used by commercial, academic and regulatory research organizations.

"The late phase CRO market continues to grow as our customers face greater scrutiny from regulators and reimbursement bodies around real-world evidence of product value and safety,” commented Dr. Steve Cutler, chief executive officer, Icon. “The acquisition of Mapi extends the breadth and depth of Icon’s late phase capabilities, creating an industry leading provider of post-approval research, spanning evidence generation, strategic regulatory services, scientific communications and commercial strategy. Our customers will also benefit from Icon’s access to the industry’s broadest set of COA tools and instruments as well as new and enhanced real world data sets. Mapi has been a pioneer of late phase and outcomes research since their foundation and we are delighted to welcome their team of experts to Icon.”

“By combining with Icon, our customers will have access to a broader global footprint, additional depth of experience, new scientific communication services and access to innovative solutions to capture real world data from patients," commented James Karis, CEO of Mapi Group. “In addition, our customers will have access to a wide range of global clinical services, spanning all phases of development. Mapi and Icon are an ideal combination, having complimentary services and a shared mission to provide superior research solutions that help improve the lives of patients globally."

“I am delighted that Mapi will become part of Icon, a company that has a similar culture and vision that will enable Mapi to continue the focus on innovation that we have developed over the last forty-three years.” commented Bernard Jambon, Mapi’s founder and chairman of the Board of Directors.